ABS-CBN News

MANILA - Proposed revisions on rules governing ride-sharing services like Uber and Grab will prevent individuals from operating fleets of cars under the scheme like taxis, a transport official said Wednesday.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board may cap the number of vehicles an Uber or Grab partner operates to prevent them from skirting taxi regulations, said LTFRB board member Aileen Lizada.

The new rules could be out as early as next month, as the LTFRB refines regulations on ride-sharing services. The Philippines is the first country in the world to regulate such app-based operations.

"Kailangan po nating i-define kung ano ang ride sharing in an MC (memorandum circular) or through a department order we need to revise," said LTFRB spokesperson Atty. Aileen Lizada.

(We need to define ride-sharing in an MC or through the revision of a department order.)

Uber resumed operations on Tuesday after serving half of its 30-day suspension for violating a moratorium on accrediting new drivers. it paid a P190-million fine and another P299 million as compensation to its partner drivers.

The LTFRB also asked Uber to bare its formula for computing "surge" or demand-based pricing, Lizada said.

"Hanggang ngayon, wala pa rin kaming access sa system nila, unlike ho sa Grab, they came to us, they showed us how their system works.

"Sa Uber po, how come that they have this stand na ang hirap-hirap namin silang pasukan. We're supposed to be the regulatory body, [dapat] may access kami sa system nila at any given time.

(We have not yet gained access to Uber's system until now, unlike Grab which came to us and showed us how their system works. How come does Uber make is so difficult to monitor? We're supposed to be the regulatory body, we should have access to their system at any given time.)